The life of Magnus Maximus
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Flavius Magnus Maximus
Imperator Caesar Flavius Magnus Maximus Augustus c. 335 - Hispania 28 August, 388 - Aquileia, Italy (aged c. 53) Executed 383 - 28 August, 388 (5 years) Victor, Theodosius I, Valentinian II None Gratian Theodosius I, Valentinian II |
Early Life
Flavius Magnus Maximus was born around the year 335 in Hispania Gallaecia. His own father was a general in Rome's military, and Maximus would follow in his footsteps. Some evidence suggests he served in Britain in 368 when the barbarian tribes there were threatening to destabilise the province during Valentinian I's reign. In 373 Maximus served under Theodosius the Elder (the Emperor Theodosius' father) in North Africa and again in the Danube in 376. By 380 Maximus had returned to Britain where he remained for a few years. He successfully repelled an invasion by the Scots and Picts in 381.
Accession to the throne
The Emperor Gratian had been choosing favourites among the military, aliening otherwise loyal troops. Eventually the military turned on him and Maximus was proclaimed emperor by his own legions while stationed in Britain. He immediately departed for Gaul and defeated Gratian in a number of battles, before the latter was abandoned by the last of his troops and summarily executed by them at Lyon on 25 August 383.
Maximus was poised to war against Theodosius I, who by now was Eastern Roman Emperor, and was on the verge of launching a campaign against the west. Maximus and Theodosius engaged in negotiations when the Bishop of Milan intervened and war was avoided. Theodosius returned to the east and formally recognised Maximus as the Western Roman Emperor, ruling over the provinces of Britain, Gaul, Span and North Africa.
Shortly after he was accepted as emperor Maximus appointed his son Victor as his co-emperor in the west. He minted coins bearing both of their images, although far more with the image of his son - likely in an attempt to form a dynasty. He soon became a popular emperor with both the people and the military.
Maximus was poised to war against Theodosius I, who by now was Eastern Roman Emperor, and was on the verge of launching a campaign against the west. Maximus and Theodosius engaged in negotiations when the Bishop of Milan intervened and war was avoided. Theodosius returned to the east and formally recognised Maximus as the Western Roman Emperor, ruling over the provinces of Britain, Gaul, Span and North Africa.
Shortly after he was accepted as emperor Maximus appointed his son Victor as his co-emperor in the west. He minted coins bearing both of their images, although far more with the image of his son - likely in an attempt to form a dynasty. He soon became a popular emperor with both the people and the military.
War Against Theodosius
Maximus still sought control over the entire Western Roman Empire and eventually invaded Italy in 387, capturing it in its entirety but failing to capture Valentinian II - who escaped to the east seeking the protection of Theodosius. Theodosius perhaps now saw Maximus as a true threat, one that could not be dealt with by mere peace treaties and negotiations, and so he invaded the western provinces.
Maximus was defeated in battle by Theodosius at the Battle of the Save in Pannonia in 388, causing him to flee to Aquileia. Following the battles in Pannonia Maximus had lost both his brother Marcellinus and top military commander, Andragathius. His list of allies was now growing smaller.
Maximus was defeated in battle by Theodosius at the Battle of the Save in Pannonia in 388, causing him to flee to Aquileia. Following the battles in Pannonia Maximus had lost both his brother Marcellinus and top military commander, Andragathius. His list of allies was now growing smaller.
Death & Legacy
At Aquileia, he fought Theodosius once more, but was defeated again, and this time taken captive and executed. Following the death of Maximus, his son Victor was later killed shortly after, strangled to death by a general of Theodosius.
A damnatio memorae was passed against Maximus, and any hopes he once had of creating a dynasty was now gone. Theodosius would continue to rule, eventually reigning over both halves of the empire after the death of Valentinian II. He would be the last ever emperor to do so.
A damnatio memorae was passed against Maximus, and any hopes he once had of creating a dynasty was now gone. Theodosius would continue to rule, eventually reigning over both halves of the empire after the death of Valentinian II. He would be the last ever emperor to do so.
Trivia
- Maximus issued an edict in 388 castigating a group of Christians in Rome who had burned down a Jewish synagogue, earning him the ire of the Bishop of Milan, who accused Maximus of converting to Judaism.